Stopping smoking is the single most important thing that you can do to improve your health. That is a fact.

Unfortunately, not every benefit is visible and you can be left thinking to yourself that you don't feel any different.

However, there are a lot of changes going on behind the scenes that you may not be aware of, but you can rest assure that your body is busying itself away and repairing as much of the damage that smoking has done to your body as possible.

Your body will begin to repair itself as soon as you stop smoking and you'll go on feeling the health benefits for the rest of your life.

20 minutes after stopping, your blood pressure and pulse rate will return to normal. Circulation improves in hands and feet, making them warmer.

8 hours after stopping, nicotine and carbon monoxide levels in the blood will be cut by half and oxygen levels will return to normal. Chances of a heart attack start to fall.

24 hours after stopping, the level of carbon monoxide in your body will be that of a non-smoker and your lungs will start to clear. You could always ask at your local pharmacy or GP surgery and see if they can check your carbon monoxide levels for you.

48 hours after stopping, your body is becoming free of nicotine and your sense of taste and smell is improving.

72 hours after stopping, you should be breathing more easily. Airway passages in the lungs begin to relax. Energy levels increase.